Vladimir Guerrero Jr. MVP finalist miss is perfect last straw for 2024 Blue Jays

As the 2024-25 MLB offseason marches on, the Toronto Blue Jays had one last chance to have something go right for them in the disappointing season that was. These Jays had the potential to make a run during this past season, but the team managed to collectively flop all at the exact same time.

On Monday night, the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA) announced their finalists for award races around the league. Most major awards in both the American and National Leagues feel like they're already wrapped up, but there was a shot - albeit an outside one - that Vladimir Guerrero Jr. could've played his way into at least the discussion for AL MVP.

To be clear - there's no shot Guerrero would've won the award even if he did manage to make it to the podium. It's been obvious for months that Yankees super-slugger Aaron Judge had since second AL MVP Award in three years in the bag. Sure enough, Judge is a finalist, alongside teammate Juan Soto and Bobby Witt Jr., but it felt like there was a fraction of a chance that Guerrero could've joined his AL East foes on the podium.

When putting Vladdy's numbers alongside the three who managed to make their way into the finalist conversation, it becomes a bit clearer why he was left off. He may not earn a top-three finish, but we could very well be looking at the fourth- or fifth-place finisher by the time the official voting is all said and done.

There aren't enough words to properly describe how dominant that Yankees duo was in 2024, but Witt deserves some love too, as he played at an astouding level all throughout the regular season.

Guerrero may not have slugged at the same level as the other three candidates, but his average and overall production put him comfortably in the top-eight or so players in the AL all across the board. In many categories, he's surrounded by the likes of Jose Ramirez, Marcus Semien, Brent Rooker, Gunnar Henderson and Jarren Duran, all of whom he may have a slight advantage over in MVP voting.

It was his second-half showing that could've pushed him up the list a bit, but that run was ultimately for naught. Guerrero finished second in the AL in runs scored, third in RBI, first in batting average, second in OBP, second in SLG and second in wRC+ in the second half. That crazy stretch of 63 games isn't to be taken lightly.

Yet, Guerrero missed out. It's difficult to say this is a shock, but this is the perfect way to bookend the season that was for the Blue Jays. They truly do have their work cut out for them this winter as they look to go from zero to hero in the matter of one offseason. The Guerrero-Bo Bichette core is oh, so close to being broken up for good, so they need to start reinforcing the squad sooner rather than later.